Screw-making machine



N- 624,803- Patented May4 9, |899.

YE p. HENN. SCREW MAKING MACHINE.

(Application led June 29, 1898.) (No Model.) 2 Sheets-Sheet I.

SAT.:

Witnesses,- [nf/@73m V.' Llzzlbz allena. l1( By hair ttor/zeg,

No. 624.809. Patented May 9,1999.

\ E c. HENN. y

SCREW MAKING MACHINE.

(Application med June 29, 189s.)

2 Sheets-Sheet 2.

QNo Model.)

ANITED STATES `f PATENT OFFICE..

EDWIN o. IIENN, CE BLCCMEIELD, CONNECTICUT.

SCREW-MAKING MACHINE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 624,803, dated Mayv 9, 1,899. APPIGEOD filed Tulle 291 1393 Serial No. 684,720. (No model.)

independent tools having separate and distinct functions and in which means are provided forautomaticallyadvancing each screwrod of the series step by step, after it has .been operated upon by one tool, to bring the same into proper successive positions to be operated upon by the next succeeding'tools of the series, one form of Inachine of this class being shown and described in Letters Patent of the United States No. 530,180, granted to me December 4, 1894, to which reference may be had.

One object of my present invention is to furnish a machine of the class specified em'- -bodying improved screw-threading instrumentalities and adjustable means forlimiting the movements and for controlling the effective operation of the screw-threading instrumentalities.

A further object of the invention is to provide in a machine of the class specified and in connection with a Work-spindle carrier and a tool-carrier, one of which is shiftable toward 4and away from the other, a work-carrying spindle, means for rotating said spindle, a reactionary screw-threadin g device supported in operative relation with the Work-carrying spindle and embodying a series of shiftable Chaser-jaws or die-segments, means for advancing the movable carrier toward the other carrier, and means controlled bythe movable carrier on the advancing and retracting movements thereof for opening and closing the Chaser-jaws, all of` which will be hereinafter more fully described.

In the drawings accompanying'and forming part-of this specification, Figure l is a side elevation, partially in section, of a portion of an automatic screw-making machine embodying my present invention. Fig. 2 is a crosssectional view of the screw-making machine, taken on dotted lines a 0L, Fig. l, as seen from the right hand in said figure. Fig. 3 is aside view, on a relatively large scale, of a portion of the screw-making machine, parts thereof being broken away and said figure showing one of the screw-threading devices in the position it occupies after the tool-carrier has been retracted and the chaser-jawactuator has been operated to close the Chaser-jaws.

Fig. 4 is a plan View of a portion of the screwmaking machine, on a scale corresponding to that of Fig. 3, illustrating two of the screwthreading devices.` Fig. 5 is a cross-sectional view taken on dotted line b b, Fig. 3, looking in the direction ofthe arrow; and Fig. 6 is a side View similar to Fig. 3, showing the screwthreading device in the position it occupies after a screw has been cut and the chaserjaws have been opened bythe actuator.

Similar characters designate like parts in all the figures of the drawings.

In the accompanying drawings only so much of the screw-making machine is shown as is deemed necessary to a full understanding ofthis mode of operation of my p'resent invention.

In the organization of mechanism shown in the accompanying drawings 'the screw-making machine comprehends the following` essential elements-to wit, a suitable framework or bed, an intermittently-rotative workspindle carrier or turret having a series of circumferentially-disposed spindle-sockets, a series of work-holding or screw-rod-carrying spindles or chuckssupported for rotation in said sockets, mechanism for imparting an intermittent rotative movement to said work- 1 spindle carrier, means for rotating the workholding spindles and the screw-rods on their 1 own axes, means for advancing the screwrods at predetermined points in the rotative movement of the carrier, a tool-carrier' supported on the bed ot' the machine for Inovement toward and away fromthe work-spindle carrier, means for intermittently advancing and retracting Jthe tool-carrier, a screwthreading devicesupported for reciprocatory movement in the tool-carrier and embodying a series of radially-adjustable chaser-jaws,` i and means controlled by the movable carrier on the advancing and retracting moveme IOO , is mounted a longitudinally-shiftable toolcarriage B, having the tool-carrying head C at or near the forward end thereof, as shown most clearly in Figs. 1 and 2 of the drawings.

The work-spindle carrier or turret D,which is partially shown in Fig. 1 of the drawings, is rotatably mounted in a horizontal bearing forlned in a turret head or upright 17, mountvi'erred to, the workcarrying spindles, which ed upon the bed or frame of the machine, near theforward end thereof. Formed longitudinally through said turret D are a series of sockets or bearings, preferably four in nurnber, in each of which is journaled a tubular shaft or sleeve 20, which in practice will be flanged at its inner end, as shown at 20', and bear against the inner face of the turret D.

By the terms inner ends and outer ends as applied to certain parts of the toolcarrier and the spindle carrier are meant those ends adjacent to the space between'the toolcarrier and the spindle-carrier and those ends most remote therefrom, respectively.

Each tubular shaft or sleeve 2O is shown conically bored at its inner end and has a split chuck-sleeve or Work-carrying spindle 22, fitted for sliding movement therein, which spindle has its inner end conically iiared to coincide with the conical bore on this end of the tubular shaft 20. Through this spindle 22 is extended the screw-rod 25 t-o be operated upon.

Loosely mounted upon the outer end of each tubular shaft 20, between collars 26', as shown in Fig. 1, is a pinion 26, which pinion is constructed to form a clutch member adapted for engagement with another clutch member, as 26, which is shown consisting of a peripherally-grooved pulley or wheel vsplined to the outer end of'the shaft 20. These clutch members are provided with inwardlyprojecting V`clutch-pins, which are normally held in endles, clutches, and the driving-wheel therefor are substantial duplicates of one another and are simultaneously driven by the gear-wheel 27, secured tothe forward end of the drivingshaft E of the machine and meshing with the gear 26 of each spindle. This shaft is journaled at its forward end in the work-carrier or turret D and at its rear end in the bearing 28, constituting a part of a bracket secured to the bed of the machine, said shaft extending through the tool-carrying head and being provided at its rear end with the usual driving-pulley 29.

It will be obvious that the work-spindle carrier D may be constructed to carry an indelinite number of work-spindles and that the tool-carrier may be. likewise constructed to carry a number of tools coinciding with the number of work-carrying spindles, the number of tools and spindles employed depending upon the form of screw it is desired to make.

As described in the patent hereinbefore reare shown of substant-ially the same construction as the work-carrying spindles in said patent, not only have an intermittent orbital movement about a common axis, but also have a rotary movement about their individual axes, which will be effected by means of mechanism hereinafter briefly described. This intermittent orbital movement is imparted to the series of work-carrying spindles for the purpose of bringing the screw-rods carried by said spindles successively into axial alinement with and in position to be successively operated upon by the successive tools of the tool-carrier C. As a means for imparting this intermittent orbital movement to the workcarrying spindles a gear-segment such as shown at 30, Fig. 1, isprovided, said gear being carried upon a counter-shaft 31, journaled at one end in a bracket or hanger, which may be secured to the framework in any suitable manner. Only a portion of this shaft 31 is shown in the drawings. This -gear-segment 30 is supported in position to mesh with the -spur-wheel 19 upon the spindle-carrier D and is adapted to rotate said carrier intermittently a distance equal to the distance between successive spindles at each complete rotation of the counter-shaft 31. In other words, the toothed segment is of sufficient length to rotate the spur-wheel 19 andthe connected carrier D a predetermined distance IOO at each complete rotation of the shaft 3l, this distance being, where four spindles are employed, equal to one-fourth of a complete rotation of the carrier D.'

Secured'to the shaft 3l, upon which the segmental gear 30 is mounted,is a pinion 33, (shown in dotted lines,) which meshes with a like pinion 34: (also shown in dotted lines) upon the forward end of a cam-shaft F. This cam-shaft is journaled in bearings at opposite ends of the framework, as shown in Fig. 1 of the drawings, and has near the rear end thereof a worm-wheel 35, which meshes with and is driven by a worm 36 upon a trans- IZS - 624,soe i e verselydisposed shaft 37, journaled in bearings formed in the side rails of the frame of the machine. The worm-shaft is provided with a bevel-gear 38, which is driven by a similar bevel-gear 3S', secured to a shaft 38", journaled in a bearing on the rear end rail of the framework, said shaft 38" having at the opposite end thereof a gear-wheel 39', which meshes with and is driven by a spur-wheel 30, secured to the main shaft E, which shaft E is driven, as before stated, through the medium of the driving-pulley29, from any suitable source of power.

As a means for actuating` the sliding toolcarriage Ba cam-wheel40 is provided, which is secured to the cam-shaft F and has camstraps 41 and 41' in position to engage the Ystud 42, secured at its upper end in the toolcarriage B, said straps being adapted during the rotation of the cam-wheel 40 for moving the carriage in opposite directions respectively with relation to the spindlecarrier D.

In the form thereof shown most clearly in Figs. 1, 3, 4, and 6 of the drawings the toolcarrier is constructed in two pieces-t'. e., the

forward or main portion 43, secured to or forming a part of the tool-carriage B, and the back plate 44, secured to the main portion 43 by means of suitable screws (not shown) that extend through spacing-blocks 45, interposed between the portion 43 and the back plate 44.

In the drawings I have for convenience shown the tool-carrier C furnished with two tools for operating upon two screw-rods simultaneously; but in practice, as will be obvious, the number of tools carried by the toolcarrier will usually be equal to the number of work-carrying spindles, which number, as before stated, will depend largely upon the form'of screw that it is desired to make. These tools, which are designated in a general way by T T', respectively, are shown in the nature of screw-threading tools, or, as

they may be hereinafter termed, threading7 devices. inasmuch as the vtwo screw-threading devices T T' are of substantially the same construction and organization a detaileddescri ption of one of said devices will suffice for both, the only difference in the organization of the two screw-threading devices T T' residing in theirpositions with relation to the inner ends of the workcarrying spindles, the leading or inner end of one screw-threading device being located somewhat in advance of that of the other device, as shown most clearly in Fig. 4 of the drawings. 1

Each screw-threading device in the preferred form thereof (shown most clearly in Fig. 3 of the drawings) comprises a die carscrewrier or head 50, fixed to the inner end of the die-stock 5l, seated for longitudinal movement in horizon tal bearings or sockets formed through the two parts of the tool-carrier C and having a Hange at the outer end thereof adapted to bear against the outer face of the back plate 44 of said head, a spiral spring 50' being interposed between'the outer face 53, carried by the Chaser-jaws and preferably projecting beyond the forward face of the head 50; a jaw-'closer 54, shiftably supported on the die-stock 51 in position for engaging between the adjacent inner faces of the chaserjaws and adapted for closing said jaws, and a stop-abutment 55, adjustably fixed to the die-stock in advance of the forward face of the carrier C and having a pin 56, extending .into a horizontal'recess 57, formed in said carrier C, which stop-abutment and pin are adapted, respectively, for limiting the restrictive movement of the threading device and for preventing a rotative movement of said device.

The mechanism for moving the tool-car? IOO pletion of the requisite partial rotation of the work-carrier for bringing the spindles thereof into an operative position in alinement with the tools the tool-carriage will be moved toward the work-spindle carrier with its tools in engagement with the screw-rods carried by the work-spindles, each tool performing its own function, and immediately-after the tools have completed their operation the tool- .carriage will be at once retracted, and after the tools have receded beyond the ends of the screw-rods the work-spindle carrier will be again rotated, as in the first instance.

In the organization of mechanism shown in the accompanying drawings the two threading devices T T' are set with their working ends normally one in `advaneeof the other, as is necessary for screw-threading successive portions of different diameters of the screw-rod to form what is known in the art as a shouldered screw, the screw-thread- `ing device T being located with its chasers or die-segments in position to engage the larger portion (designated by l) of the end of the screw-rod coincidently with the engagement of the slnaller portion Z' of said screw-rod by the chasers or die-segments of the threading-tool T', as will be understood by reference to Fig. 4 of the drawings.

In practice the rotative velocity of the screw-rod carrier or spindle will be sufficient, as compared with the advancing movement of the tool-carrierC, to cause the screw` threading device, after the same hasengaged the end of the screw-rod, to have an advancing movement the velocity of which is slightlj7 in excess of the advancing movement of said carrier C, so that the screw-threading die will, during its effective operation, have a slight lead over said carrier, the retracting-spring 50 facilitating a longitudinal movement of the screw-threading device with relation to the carrier C.

In practice it is extremely important that means' be provided for effecting the release of the screw-threading device from the end of the screw-rod at the requisite point in the advancing movement of the tool-carrier C. To this end I have provided, in connection with the movable carrier and on each screwthreading device, adjustable instrumentalities controlled by the tool-carrier on the advancing and retracting movements thereof for automatically opening and closing the chaser-jaws of the screw-threading device and for also limiting the effective operation of said device. These instrumentalities, in the preferred form thereof shown most clearly in Figs. l and 4 of the drawings, comprise two die-closer-actuating arms 58 and 59, pivotally supported at their upper ends upon a bracket 60, fixed to the movable carrier C, and in bearing engagement at their lower free ends with opposite ends of the closer 54, which closer is in the nature of a conical sleeve, and two arm-actuating abutments 61 and 62, respectively, adjustably secured upon a fixed supporting arm or bar 63, one in advance of the other in the rear of the two closer-actuating arms 58 and 59, said abutments being shown in the nature ofslide-blocks adjustably secured to the bar GS by means of setscrews 61 and 62', respectively,and each slideblock having a lateral projection located in the path of movement ofthe actuating-arms 58 and 59. One of the slide-blocks, as 62, is located in advance of the closer-actuating arms 58 and 59 and in position to engage the arm 59 at a predetermined point in the advancing movement of the threading device, to thereby cause said arm 59 to retract the closer 54 from the chaser-jaw-closing position shown in Fig; 3 to the position thereof shown in Fig. 6, thus allowing the Chaser-jaws to open,said chaser-jaws being opened by springs (not shown) in the usual manner, and the other slide-block is located in the :rear of and in position to engage the closer-actuating arm 58 on the retractive movement of the screwthreading device and its carrier C, and thereby cause the arm 58' to advance the closer from the position shown in Fig. G to the dieclosing position thereof shown in Figs. l, 3, and 4, as will be readily understood by a comparison of the several Iigures of the drawlngs.

The stop-abutment 55, carried by the stock 51, will be secured to said stock in such position as to allow a retractive movement of the screw-threading device of alength slightly in excess of the length of the screw-thread being cu t, so that when the closer-actuating arm 59 engages the slide-block or abutment 62 to open the jaws the screw-threading device will though the medium of the spring 50 be retracted beyond the extreme end of the screwrod.

By adjusting the two abutment-blocks 61 and 62 in proper position upon their supporting-bar 63 the length of effective movement of the screw-threading device may be accurately determined. This supporting-bar is shown of a length not less than the maximum length of travel of the carrier C, is secured at one end to the upper face of the spindle-carrier D, extends over the carrier C in parallelism with the main shaft E, and has a depending portion which is shown fixed to the bed of the machine. The construction and organization of this bar may, however, be modified without departure from this invention.

By providing closeractuating arms that are pivotally supported and a yielding device, such as the spiral spring 50', for holding the threading device longitudinally the threading device and the closer-actuators may have a limited amount of free movement, so that when said'actuators strike the abutments 6l and 62 by the retractin g and advancing movement of the carrier C the danger of breaking any of the parts, which might accrue if the threading device and closer-actuating arms were rigidly supported, is entirely obviated.

For the purpose of preventing a retractive movement of the Chaser-jaw closer, which closer is in the nature of a frusto-conical sleeve shiftably supported on the die-stock, said sleeve is peripherally notched to form opposing abutment-faces 65 and 65 near one end thereof, between which abutment-faces the lower free end of the actuating-arm 58 extends, so that the free end of said arm will engage one or the other of these abntments and prevent accidental rotative movement of the closer upon the die-stock. It will be obvious, however, that the closer might be splined to the die-stock without departure from this invention.

Having described my invention, I claiml. In a screw-making machine, the combination, with a rotative work-spindle carrier and means for intermittently rotating the same and with 'a tool-carrier and means for moving the tool-carrier toward and away from the work-spindle carrier, of a screw-threading device shiftably supported on the toolcarrier and embodying a series of chaser-jaws or die-segments and a Chaser-jaw closer; a

closer-actuator pivotally supported on a fixlpath of movement of the closure-actuatorand adapted at predetermined points in the advancing and retracting movements of the closlof ing device for effecting, through said closeractuator and closer, au opening-and-closing movement of the jaws.

2. In a screw-making machine, the combination, with a rotative work-spindle carrier and means forintermittently rotating the carrier, of a sliding tool-carrier; means for advan cin g and retracting the sliding tool-carrierv intermediate of intermittent rotations of the work-spindle carrier; two scre w-threadingdevices supported on the tool-carrier for a limited amount of longitudinal movement independent of said carrier and having their screw-cutting ends located one in advance of the other, whereby the two threading devices may simultaneously operate upon diiferent longitudinal portions ot' independent screwrods; a retracting device in connection with each screw threading device; adjustable means in connection with each device for limiting the independent longitudinal movement of said device; and means controlled by the advancing and retracting movements of the tool-carrier for opening and closing the screwthreading dies of both carriers simultaneously.

3. In a screw-making machine, the combination, with' a sliding tool-carrier and means for advancing and retracting said tool-carrier intermittently,of screw-threadinginstrumentalities comprehending a die-stockshittably supported in the tool-carrier with its longitudinal axis in a horizontal line; a die-head fixed to said stock and embodying a series of radially-disposed shiftable Chaser-jaws; a

jaw-closer shiftably mounted on the die-stock; abutments on the die-stock at opposite side faces of the carrier, and one of which abutments is adjustable for limiting the longitudinal movement of said screw-threading de vice; a retracting-spring interposed between the carrier and one of said abutments two closer-actuating arms pivotallysupported at their upper ends and having their lower ends in bearing engagement with the opposite end faces of thecloser; and actuating abutments adj ustably supported at opposite sides in the path of movement of the tool-closer-actuatin g arms, respectively, and adapted on the ad.

vancing and retracting movements of the carrier for shifting the jaw-closer in opposite directions to eifect an opening-and-closing movement of the Chaser-jaws.

4c. In a screw-making machine, the combination, with two carriers one of which is shiftable toward and away from the other and with means for intermittently advancing and retracting one of said carriers, of a screwthreading tool supported for longitudinal movement in one of said carriers and embodying separable dies and a shiftable diecloser; a bracket secured to one of said carriers; depending closer-actuating arms pivotally'supported at their Aupper ends to the bracket and having their lower ends in shiftable engagement with opposite endsof the closer; an abutment-supporting bar spanning the space between the two carriers; and closer-arm-actuating abutments adjustably secured to said bar, one at each side of said arms, and having projections located in the path of movement of said arms, whereby on the advancing and retracting'movement of the vthreading device an opening-and-closing movement will be imparted alternately to the threading-dies.

5; In a screw-making machine, the combination, with a shift-able tool-carriage and with a threading-tool shiftably mounted thereon and having separable dies and a closer for actuating said dies,of two pivotally-supported actuating-arms located one in advance of the other and having their free ends in engagement with opposite end faces, respectively, of the die-closer; and abutments located in the path of 'movement of said arms and adapted, on the advancing and retracting movement of the tool-carriage, one for actuating the forward arm to effect an opening movement of the dies and the other for actuating the other arm to eect a closing movement of said dies; and means in connection with the tool-carrier, for holding the same against rotative movement.

6. In a screw-making machine, the combination, with a shiftable tool-carrier, of screwthreading instrumentalities comprising a diestock shiftably supported in the tool-carrier;

a retracting device in connection with said IOO IIO

ends in engagement one with the forward face of the closer and the other in engagement between the peripheral abntments of said closer; adjustably-supported blocks located at opposite sides, respectively, and in the path of l. movement of, the closer-actuating arms; and

means for intermittently advancing and re- 4 tracting the carrier whereby an opening-andclosing movement is imparted to the die-carrying jaws.

EDWIN C. I-IENN.

Witnesses:

FRANoIs I-I. RICHARDS, GEORGE A. HOFFMAN. 

